KIRKUS REVIEW

Posthumous sequel to The Black Star Murders (1988), and again a mildly irritating, skewed sendup of the West 35th Street brownstone, with retired Secretary of State Carter Winfield impersonating Wolfe and Matt Doyle running around wisecracking (or trying to) as Archie. Here, Dirk, one of the household's clan, is arrested for killing his stepmother, the evidence being a kitchen knife with his fingerprints on it. To the rescue: Win and Matt, who know he's innocent, even though years ago he did kill his dad, served time for it, and never got along with stepmom Marlee. Matt's sleuthing covers yachts, condo building sites, various offices, apartments, a warehouse movie set, and results in three attempts on his life, the kidnapping of his girlfriend, Win's extreme displeasure, and a boat blown out of the water in Mexico. Then there's the big chase: a footrace pitting Matt and his girl against the Brains and the Brawn, who disembark from their helicopter with guns blazing. Win's explanation of it all reveals blackmail, a frame-up, drugs, power-of-attorney shenanigans, and a final--unbelievable--twist. Mannered, mean-spirited, and rating a "Pfui" from Wolfe fans.

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